This meeting of the Category B Officer Decisions - Director for Economy & Place will consider a proposal to award a grant from the Welsh Government's Transforming Towns Placemaking Grant Programme to the owner of the Former Cinema Building, Monmouth Square, Cwmbran. The grant would be used to secure the shell of the building, which has been vacant for around 20 years. The Transforming Towns Placemaking Board has already recommended this application for approval.

Transforming Towns Placemaking Grant - Former Cinema Building, Cwmbran

A report will be submitted to Christina Harrhy, Director for Economy & Place, regarding the award of a £250,000 grant from the Welsh Government's Transforming Towns Placemaking Grant to the owner of the Former Cinema Building, Monmouth Square, Cwmbran. The grant is intended to support the revitalisation of town centres in Wales.

The Former Cinema Building is described in the report pack as a flagship building at the southern gateway of Cwmbran town centre that has been vacant for approximately 20 years. It is situated within the Cwmbran Placemaking boundary and is identified as a key redevelopment opportunity in the draft Cwmbran Placemaking Plan.

The grant would enable the owner to undertake works to secure the shell of the building, including:

• Removal of derelict cinema fitout
• Making safe the building, including roof repairs, floors and wall surfaces
• Removing asbestos and other deleterious materials
• Replacing redundant mechanical and electrical installations
• Completing necessary EPC improvements
• Repairing and resurfacing floor and wall surfaces

The report states that completing these works will also unlock the occupation of the adjacent former Inshops market building, as part of a major leisure anchor offer. The proposed occupier of the building will directly commission contractors for the specialist installation requirements. The refurbishment is estimated to cost £830,981, with the grant covering £250,000 and the landlord providing £580,981.

The report notes that the Transforming Towns Placemaking Programme Board considered the application on 16 May 2025 and agreed to approve it, subject to satisfactory completion of due diligence regarding securing equity in a substitute property. However, due to complex ownership arrangements, officers have reviewed the approach and concluded that security should be waived in this specific circumstance, relying instead on a restriction of sale to protect the investment. The council's Section 151 Officer¹ has agreed to this approach, and Welsh Government has raised no objections.

Welsh Government has advised that while they are content to agree to the council's request to waive the requirement for a legal charge, this is done at the risk to the council. Should there be a breach of the award letter, the Welsh Government could seek full or partial repayment of the funding from the council.

The report concludes that awarding this grant raises minimal risks to the council and public funds, as the property will be secured by a restriction placed upon the title preventing sale within a five-year period.

Other Matters

The report pack includes a recommendation that Christina Harrhy approves the award of the grant of £250,000.00 from the Welsh Government's Transforming Towns Placemaking Grant Programme to the owner of the Former Cinema Building, Monmouth Square, Cwmbran.